Will Netflix charge users a fee for sharing their password?

Netflix has just released a potentially unpleasant news. The streaming platform behind multiple successful shows, such as Emily in Paris or the documentary about Kanye West, will no longer allow the sharing of passwords between users. With over 221.8 million subscribers for the year 2022 only, Netflix aims at applying stringent rules due to that subscriptions increase. New users will have to pay up to three dollars, in addition to their respective subscription, in order to add a maximum of two “extra members” to their account.

 

Many reasons justify that decision. Among them, the increasing number of competing platforms like Disney+ or Prime Video, as well as a streaming market weakening due to the pandemic. To make users feel better about this change, Netflix Product Innovation Director Chengyi Long said in a press release that paying an additional fee would impact “our ability to invest in great new TV and films for our members”. For now, a test run is taking place in Chili, Costa Rica, and Peru only, but this new directive might spread all over the world in the event of a conclusive outcome.